Google Now Integrates 40 New Third-Party Apps on Android

Google’s highly intelligent personal assistant for Android devices, Google Now, just took a massive leap forward. The app service which originally started with the launch of Android 4.1 (known as Jelly Bean) serves as a multi-function hub providing users with various types of valuable feedback such as nearby events, weather, traffic and other public alerts. The service also uses the info from their Google account to provide updates about their interests.

Even with all these features, there was something missing in Google Now and it seems that it has been fixed now with the inclusion of 40 party apps to the fold. The app support will add data from all sorts of apps for increased functionality including TripAdvisor, eBay, Lyft and Walgreens for day to day usage with almost real-time updates.

According to Google, the update to the core Google app on Android is rolling out now, and updates for cards from the developers Google has partnered with will be rolling out over the next few weeks.

“Starting today, the Google app on Android can help you keep up with all the good stuff in 40 different apps at a glance — it’ll bring you Now cards to help you out with your day-to-day life, giving you information that’s helpful to you, right when you need it,” said Google in a blog post.

This however isn’t the stop for Google as after these 30 developers, the company is planning on partnering up with more to increase Google Now support and bring more cards. Previously where the information from cards was limited only to Google services, it will now offer data from a multitude of sources for more comprehensive information.

The cards can also work as sort of post-it notes to remind users of pending tasks such as grocery shopping using apps like Instacart. Since its launch around 3 years ago, Google Now has grown considerably and is becoming an integral part of Android now, much like Apple’s Siri (which doesn’t support third party apps as of now), with the addition of voice commands.